Text-Only Tutorial copyright 2025 by Tina Pildain
and by
accessorigami.com
Materials:
• A square of approximately 15 x 15 cm - You can try using smaller squares, but I don't recommend it at first, as you'll be working with very small flaps. You can even use a larger square if it makes you feel more confident.
• Scissors - You'll only use these to shape the pentagon with a straight cut.
Description and More Information:
This beautiful star is folded from a pentagon. It has 5 very sharp points that look like elongated diamonds extending from the center of the figure. A straight groove runs along each point. Between each point, small corners emerge, which could be seen as much shorter intermediate points. If you flip the figure, as if turning a page in a book, you'll find a pentagon bordered by 5 triangles pointing towards its center. The inner sides of these triangles form a smaller star in a kind of bas-relief.
Note: Since this star is symmetrical, most of the steps will be repeated on all 5 sides of the pentagon. I think this is very helpful because you can practice the more complicated steps over and over again with just one piece of paper. Additionally, the process is very relaxing and somewhat reminiscent of modular origami.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1
Cut a pentagon from a square. The method from the following link is perfect for starting this model, as it marks the center of the pentagon and some folds that will be useful later:
https://www.accessorigami.com/2025/01/how-to-make-pentagon-from-square-with.html
Step 2
Place the pentagon with one of its edges parallel to the edge of your table. If you carefully follow the creases you made when cutting the figure, you'll notice that they all converge at the center. Keep this in mind because you'll need the center for the following steps.
Step 3
Bring the bottom edge of the pentagon to meet the center. To ensure your fold doesn't deviate, you can carefully follow the vertical line precisely in the middle of the figure. The crease you're about to create should be straight, so the bottom edge of the pentagon should remain parallel to the table's edge. Crease firmly.
You'll get another pentagon, but the lower left and right sides will be shortened. Unfold.
Step 4
Repeat with the other 4 sides of the pentagon, creasing firmly and unfolding each time. To make this easier, you can rotate the paper as needed to have the side you want to fold facing you.
Now you could say that all the valley folds you just made form a smaller pentagon within the center of the figure, although they extend to all its edges.
Step 5
Rotate the pentagon so that one of its corners points towards you.
Step 6
Now you'll make a rabbit ear fold. To do this, simultaneously close the two creases that intersect at the corner you just mentioned. Once done, you'll notice how this corner tends to lift upwards, creating a triangle perpendicular to the table. Flatten the creases of this triangle well, without crushing it.
You can let the folded triangle tilt away from you so that the paper on the sides of the triangle will be pressed completely flat. The two-layered triangle will now have its closed side towards you and its open side facing the center of the figure. It will look like a spike or a peak that is pointing upwards to the ceiling.
Step 7
Rotate the figure clockwise to repeat the previous step. This time, the left side is already closed, so you only need to close the right side. The movement of creasing from right to left will settle the already made folds to form a triangle identical to the previous one, which you'll also flatten so it will stand up, perpendicular to the table.
Step 8
Repeat the rabbit ear fold on the remaining 3 sides. The result will be a smaller regular pentagon with five peaks that are standing up at a 90 degree angle in relation to the table. Next, you'll make squash folds on all of them in order to flatten them into 5 half-square bases.
Step 9
Let's focus on one of the peaks and work on it, then repeat this step with all the others:
9.1: To facilitate the squash fold, you'll first precrease the bisector of the triangle. This means you'll fold the closed edge of the triangle, that is nearest you, downwards and to the side to meet the junction between the peak (that is standing up) and the pentagon that is flat on the table. The peak will fold in half. You can crease this as a valley and mountain fold, or in other words, to the left and to the right. Unfold.
9.2: With your reference marks made, you're finally ready to make your squash fold.
Pointing forward, or to the side furthest from you, the peak you're working on has a pocket. Insert your fingers into it to open it to the left and right. Your reference creases will help flatten the peak to obtain a flat diamond or rhombus shape. It's important that the top point of the diamond is exactly in the center of the pentagon. With this, you've completed your first half-square base.
Step 10
Repeat step 9 with the remaining 4 sides. It's normal for the diamonds to overlap, so don't worry about that.
You'll get a perfectly defined pentagon with 5 half-square bases that touch at the center.
Step 11
Now you need to make 5 petal folds or half-bird bases, which will be the 5 points of your star. As in the previous steps, you'll focus on one point and then repeat the process on all the others.
11.1: First, it's important to make sure that the diamond you are working on isn't covered by any of the adjacent diamonds. If it is, simply lift it so it sits on top of the others and you can work with it freely. You'll know it's correct because it will be a completely smooth shape, except for its central vertical crease, divided into two flaps (left and right) that can move freely and unhindered.
What follows may seem very familiar if you know how to fold figures that use bird bases, like the crane, for example.
11.2: It's time to make preparatory folds. First, bring the top right edge of the diamond, both layers, towards the central vertical line. It's important to differentiate it from the bottom edge, which is a closed edge, while the one you need to fold is an open edge with two layers. You'll get a small, sharp triangular flap. Crease firmly and leave folded.
11.3: Repeat with the top left edge, so both sides meet in the center of the diamond. You could describe the shape you just created as an ice cream cone. The "ice cream" is the closed point that faces you, while the "cone" is the sharp triangle pointing away from you. Crease firmly and unfold both sides.
11.4: To finish your half-bird base, you're going to make a petal fold. To do this, you need to lift the top point of the diamond, which is a single layer of paper, and bring it towards you. This will cause the paper to open up like a canoe. All that's left is to flatten it so that the single-layer edges meet at the central vertical line. The reference creases you just made will help the "canoe" flatten and become a sharp, elongated diamond. Smooth the creases carefully to ensure the point facing you is sharp and wrinkle-free. It has become a star point, which means you're close to the end of the folding!
Don't worry if the star points don't come out very sharp or precise at first. Even if you've made bird bases or petal folds before, don't forget that you're working with much smaller squares than usual!
Step 12
Repeat step 11 with the remaining 4 sides.
Now you have all the points of your star, but you need to make them stand out more, right? Let's add a final touch to make them look much better.
Step 13
Flip the figure so the top face is a smooth pentagon with several marked creases. The points of the star protrude slightly from underneath.
Step 14
This step is a brief explanation that will help you locate the important points for the final folds:
• The corners: The visible face of the figure is, as mentioned, a smooth pentagon whose sides are closed edges. The folds you'll make next will involve moving the corners of this pentagon. Don't confuse them with the star points, which are already finished and don't need to be folded again.
• The reference creases: If you briefly place the pentagon with one of its sides parallel to the table's edge, you'll notice a vertical crease exactly in its center. There's one for each side, and they all reach the opposite point of the figure. Don't be afraid to reinforce these creases well because you need to be able to find them easily.
Step 15
Final folds:
15.1: Place the pentagon with a corner pointing towards you. If you trace the edges originating from this corner with your fingers, you'll reach the aforementioned reference creases on the left and right.
15.2: As if playing "connect the dots," draw an imaginary line between these two creases. Lift the corner and fold along this line, moving it towards the center of the pentagon. Although you won't touch it, it can serve as a reference point. Keep in mind that you won't necessarily fold as far up as possible. The important thing is to clearly mark the boundary between the two reference creases without exceeding them. You must fold calmly and precisely because, when repeating this fold on the other four sides, no corner should overlap another. Crease firmly and leave folded.
Step 16
As I mentioned earlier, you'll repeat step 15 on all sides of the pentagon. The result will be 5 triangles pointing towards the center. Check that they are all approximately the same size and no fold overlaps another. If you gently run your fingers over this face of the figure, you'll notice that the inner sides of these triangles form another star that appears to be in bas-relief. Since you've folded many layers of paper, the corners tend to tilt slightly upwards. I've been told this creates a nice visual effect, but if you prefer, you could place the star under a heavy book for a few hours or secure them with a little glue.
Step 17
Flip the figure over to admire your beautiful 5-pointed star. You can reinforce the petal folds on each point to create a more precise finish.
Compiled by Tina Pildain and Lindy van der Merwe, July 2025
For non-commercial use only.
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.COM and the authors
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